Swimming pool structure



Dec. 10, 1957 J. J. MEEKIN ETAL 2,815,512

SWIMMING POOL STRUCTURE;

Filed Dec. 8, 1955 INVENTORS.

JAMES J. MEEKIN BY LAWSON J. ZENT flee-2064M ATTORNEY United StatesPatent Oflice 2,815,512 Patented Dec. 10, 1957 SWIMIVHNG POOL STRUCTUREJames J. Meekin and Lawson J. Zent, Huntington, Ind., assignors to TheHettrick Manufacturing Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of OhioApplication December 8, 1955, Serial No. 551,945

4 Claims. (Cl. 4-172) This invention relates to swimming pools and anobject is to produce a new and improved swimming pool structure, whichhas a flexible fabric body forming the bottom and side walls of the pooland an encompassing frame work of knock-down type, so that it can becompacted for shipment or storage, the framework being exceedinglysturdy, eifectively to withstand the hydraulic pressures normal to arelatively large swimming pool, but of suflicient flexibility toaccommodate abrupt increases in pressure caused, for example, by thewave-like motion or surging of water from one side of the pool to theother, as well as increased pressures due to splashing and the like.

Another object is to produce a relatively large size portable swimmingpool assembly which has the novel features of construction, arrangementand assembly hereinafter described.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear,and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment ofthe invention is shown on the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 isa top perspective view of the swimming pool structure;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of one of the vertical posts and showingthe portions of the top and bottom rails attached thereto;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of one end of a verticalpost and showing the rails attached thereto; and

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a portableswimming pool structure having a body of waterproofed canvas or othersuitable flexible material providing a bottom wall and a surroundingupright circular side wall. Such a body provides a relatively largepool. For example, the pool body may have a diameter of the order oftwenty feet and a height of three feet. Manifestly a body of thosedimensions is capable of holding a large gallonage of water exertingappreciable hydraulic pressures on the side walls. Such pressures willvary due to the surging of the water from one side to the other,splashing and the movement of people within the pool. Consequently it isimportant properly and efiiciently to brace the side walls of the body10.

As shown, the side walls are surrounded by a wire mesh fence 11consisting of relatively closely spaced vertical and horizontal wires.The fencing extends from the bottom wall of the body 10 to the upperedge portion of the side walls of the body and the side walls of thebody bear intimately against the fencing throughout.

The fencing is reinforced and held in position by an outer supportingframe which consists of a series of equidistantly spaced vertical posts12 which are interconnected at their top and bottom ends by horizontalrails 13.

Each post 12 is of rigid steel tubing, the major portion of the lengthof each post being tubular but the upper and lower ends are swaged orotherwise formed to provide a pair of parallel vertically disposedcylindrical sockets 14 into which the down-turned or up-turned, as thecase may be, ends 15 of the horizontal rails 13 loosely extend. Theopposite ends 15 of each rail 13 are turned at substantially rightangles as shown and can slip into the socket of the adjacent post, thefit being relatively loose so that, the several rails 13 can rockrelative to the post, thereby providing a flexible yielding joint andpermitting one portion of the pool framework to give or flex relative toanother portion, depending upon the hydraulic pressures to which theparticular section of the side wall is subjected. Thus the several postsin effect float and can rock outwardly or inwardly according to thepressure on the contiguous side wall of the pool body.

It will be understood that the free edge portion of the side walls ofthe tank body 10 are wrapped around the top rails 13 in any suitablemanner.

From the above, it will be manifest that we have produced an exceedinglysimple pool structure but one which will effectively withstandexceedingly high water pressures normal to the use of a swimming pool.The flexible framework provides, as above indicated, a substantiallyfloating bulwark which will yield to a limited extent and suflicient toaccommodate itself to relatively abrupt increased pressure and therebyobviating liability of breakage. Manifestly the pool can be erected ordismantled in a relatively short period of time and the structure issuch that it can be compacted satisfactorily for both storage andshipment.

Numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and choice ofmaterials may be effected without departing from the spirit of theinvention, especially as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A swimming pool structure comprising a pool body of flexible sheetmaterial having a bottom wall and upstanding side walls of closedconfiguration, wire fencing on the outside of and engaging the sidewalls, and a frame work on the outside of and backing up said fencing,said frame work including a series of vertical posts, railsinterconnecting adjacent posts, and a pivotal connection between the endof each rail and the adjacent post, said wire fencing comprising a wiremesh fabric substantially the same size and configuration as theupstanding side Walls of the pool body and being in generally flatengagement therewith.

2. A swimming pool structure comprising a pool body of flexible sheetmaterial having a bottom wall and upstanding side walls of closedconfiguration, wire fencing on the outside of and engaging the sidewalls, and an articulated frame work backing up said fencing andconsisting of vertical and horizontal members hingedly connectedtogether, said wire fencing comprising a wire mesh fabric substantiallythe same size and configuration as the upstanding side walls of the poolbody and being in generally flat engagement therewith.

3. A swimming pool structure comprising a pool body of flexible sheetmaterial having a bottom wall and upstanding side walls of closedconfiguration, wire fencing on the outside of and engaging the sidewalls, and a floating frame work backing up said fencing and having aseries of laterally spaced vertical posts, rails connecting the upperand lower ends respectively of adjacent posts, and a hinge connectionbetween the ends of each rail and the respective posts, said wirefencing comprising a wire mesh fabric substantially the same size andconfiguration as the upstanding side walls of the pool body and being ingenerally fiat engagement therewith.

4. A swimming pool structure comprising a pool body of flexible sheetmaterial having a bottom wall and upstanding side walls of closedconfiguration, Wire fencing on the outside of and engaging the sidewalls, and a frame work backing up said fencing and having a series oflaterally spaced vertical posts having twin sockets at the upper andlower ends thereof, and a series of rails having downturned ends fittingsaid sockets respectively thereby to enable the rails to hingerelatively to the posts and to enable one portion of the frame Work toflex relative to another portion, said wire fencing comprising a wiremesh fabric substantially the same size 4 and configuration as theupstanding side walls of the pool body and being in generally flatengagement therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,664,887 Kirkham et a1. Apr. 3, 1928 2,021,074 Maynes Nov. 12, 1935FOREIGN PATENTS 965,289 France Feb. 15, 1950

